PORT ST. LUCIE — Terry Collins remembers thinking how impressive it was last year when close to 55 players showed up by the end of voluntary workouts before spring training.

The new New York Mets manager is hoping for the same kind of enthusiasm as voluntary workouts are now under way in preparation for the 2011 spring training season. Light workouts began Jan. 24, but will be closed to the public until the team's first official practice for pitchers and catchers Feb. 17.

"That was the most impressive thing I saw last year was the number of minor league players and major league players that came out before spring training," Collins said after a workout with seven players Monday at the Digital Domain Park complex. "... This is unique. Not many clubs are able to do something like this. These guys are not paid to be out here right now, so they are coming early on their own dime. It's exciting to see players willing to do that, and I'm looking forward to when they all get out here for real."

Daniel Murphy, a corner infielder who is now learning to play second base, was the first major league player to arrive, attending his first workout Monday, which included six minor league players. Murphy said outfielder/first baseman Nick Evans was scheduled to get into town Monday night, and third baseman David Wright is expected later this week. Collins estimated 15-20 players would be there by the end of this week and up to 30 by next week.

Arriving early is nothing unusual for Murphy, though.

"I like to get down here and get settled in," said Murphy, who made the drive from Jacksonville. "There's nobody out here so there are plenty of swings going around, plenty of groundballs to take. Today we had three or four position players and almost five or six coaches out there, so it is a great time to get a lot of one-on-one work with people who are familiar with the position you are trying to master."

With such a small group, Collins was able to take a very hands-on approach Monday. He pitched batting practice, tossed infield practice and even shagged some fly balls, but said he will have to back off as more players arrive.

"I love it out here," Collins said. "I've been doing it for 41 years, and this is why I do it. It's fun to be out here and work with the players. When we get more players out here, I'll do less, especially when we start getting more major league players."

Murphy said he already has a "really good relationship" with Collins, who served as Mets minor league field coordinator last year, and the transition to new management has gone "smoothly." He said he has spoken to the new skipper a couple times since he was hired in November and has been pleased to see the lines of communication kept open.

"I'm looking forward to a new camp with him," Murphy said. "One thing is he's been on the minor league side as well as big-league, so he kind of understands what it takes as far as communication throughout an organization to be on the same page. That's one thing he is really pushing is trying to have communication from the big-leagues all the way down to the lower levels of our system."

Murphy said Monday's workout was similar to past sessions under former manager Jerry Manuel, but Collins said he plans to make some changes come spring training.

"I don't want to criticize anybody — I would never want to do that — but I will run spring training different than other people," Collins said. "We are not going to have as many players, which is one of our benefits. Jerry had over 65 guys in camp, and we will have less than 60. We'll have a lot more repetition, due to the numbers.

"We are not going to be out here for hours. We are going to get a lot of work done in smaller groups. There will be things we work on on a daily basis. We'll try to bring some energy, let the guys have some fun and get them in and get them out. We're excited to get going."

METS SPRING TRAINING

Pitchers and catchers report: Feb. 15

First workout for pitchers and catchers: Feb. 17*

Position players report: Feb. 19

First full-squad workout: Feb. 21

Grapefruit League opener: Feb. 26 vs. Braves

Ticket sales: The Digital Domain Park box office is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. You can also order tickets online at www.nymets.com or by calling (877) 538-6282.